News Editor

With Halloween and trick or treating just behind us, it’s time to start looking ahead to just about everyone’s favorite time of the year – Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The employees at Edge Regional Medical Center have already been thinking and planning for the holidays, and one of the first events for the holidays is the annual Lights of Love" ceremony.

Each year ERMC sponsors a "Lights of Love Christmas Tree" and lights are purchased in honor or in memory of a loved one. The lights can be purchased for $5 each and all proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.

"The lights don’t have to be purchased for people who have cancer or who have died with cancer," said Faye Lunsford, public relations director of ERMC. "They can be purchased for anyone who is special to you."

The "Lights of Love" ceremony will be held Tuesday, Dec. 4 at the hospital.

At the ceremony there will Christmas carols led by Sheila Jackson and some employees of the hospital. Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford will welcome everyone to the ceremony and ERMC CEO Rusty Eldridge will read the list of names during the ceremony.

Lunsford said during the reading of the names, candles will be furnished and lit. After the ceremony the Christmas lights will be lit and everyone can enjoy refreshments.

"It’s a really moving ceremony," Lunsford said. "People enjoy doing it and we have some people that come back year after year."

Orders are being taken now for "Lights of Love." To add a light to the Lights of Love Christmas Tree, call Lunsford at 670-5000.